As external environmental conditions change, managers face the impact of these changes on jobs and employment. Economists predict that about one quarter of the 8.4 million U.S. jobs eliminated during the most recent economic downturn won’t be reinstated.
Such readjustments create challenges for managers who must balance work demands with having enough people with the right skills to do the organization’s work.
Changes in external conditions not only affect the types of jobs available but they also affect how the jobs are created and managed. For example, many employers use flexible work arrangements and contract freelancers or temporary workers.